Turbine nozzle



June 28, 1960 NEATE 2,942,844

TURBINE NOZZLE Filed. D60. 22, 1952 'IIII,

s 7 a y 36' t g g/ zagwgyw Attorneys V NOZZLE 'P. Nei'ateg lndian'apolis; Indz, assignor toGeiieral xMotors Gorporattom Detroit; Miclu, a corporation :of

Delaware" 7 Eiled'DeQc. 22;1952, Ser. No} 327,355

6 Claims: c1. ass-m My invention relates --to turbine nozzles. anduthedike and, more particularly, Ito a turbine nozzle -structure 41a:- ticularly adapted to gas turbine installations Qlt. willfhe understood, hoizvever, that the principles ,Jof .thefinvention may be appliedto analogous installations. I .It-will ialsolbe understood that within the termfno'zzlei may .beiembraced not .only the first sta-gernozzlebut intermediate stage nozzles or diaphragms of-multistage.tu1ibines..

'. :The principal object. ofttheinventionais to provideia structure of this sort better'adapted. to. withstand .theextremely rigorous, conditions of aircraft gas: turbine servI- ice than nozzle arrangementsipreviouslyknown. Inthis lattice-with continuous inner and outer shrud;and

vanes fixed at bothrends-to both shroud rings; because stresses occasionedby thermal expansi'ons ands-accompanied by gas loadinghave resulted in distortion tand destruction of nozzlestructures- The conventional approach to this-problem has *been to form-one or both of the shroud irings-as a-plurality of segments to provide expansion gaps inthe shroud rings.

In principle, my invention involves employingcontinuous shroud ringsand providing a loose connection between the vanesand one ofthe shroud rings. It-also involves provision for radial expansion of :the'shroud rings with respect to other parts ofthe'turbine :on which they are mounted where such provision is desirable, as normally it may beexpected-to'be. Avfeature of the invention is improved provision-for centering the nozzle by limitedcontact with theturbine casingwhen thenozzle is'hot.

The principles of the invention and the advantages thereof will be more clearly apparent-to .those skille'din the art from the succeeding detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a gas turbine engine of one type incorporatingthenozzle'structure offthe invention, the section beingtaken on'a plane containing the axis'of the'turbine';

Fig 2 is a partial elevational new ofth nozzleprojected on the plane indicated by the line 22-"-in Fig. '-1;

Fig.8 is a partial plan view of thenozzle projected -on the plane indicated by the line 3"-3 in Fig 1; and

Fig. '4 a fragmentary'section'projected 011111161 iplane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

St es. Pa en ice The invention is illustrated hereinas applied to an engine. v(a turbo-jet engine of the J 33 -series)tillustrated only sufiiciently to make clear the structure pertinent to the invention. Since the general. stnucturetand operation of the-engineiare. widely known and understood, the view of .Fig. 1 shows principallyathe turbine nozzleythe rim of, the turbine wheel including :the; blades, and the structure defining the motive: fluid? pathadjacent the "turbine, which is of the singlestage type.

,Referringfirst to Fig. l,'the.frameof the engine inter.- connectingthe turbine-and compressor and supporting thelmain of the engineincludes a ring-11 joined by a numberof radiallyextendin-g gussetplates. 1 2 to a turhinegnoz zle casing 1-3. Thegussets- 12 .are welded to the rlng-11 and casing-.13 andthus-the members 11 andv 12 define asupport -fo r..-the teasing -.f;rom: thev engine 'frame '10. on .the turbine-nozzle case .13 by bolts 14 .is r a turbine case 16, withinwhich-is mounteda turbine-shroud 17. A turbine wheel '18 :onswhich-are mounted blades 19 rotates -withinthe shroud -.17. Motive fluid is delivered vto theturbine from-combustion chambers (not illus- -trated),'jwhich are --mounted :-'betweenthel ring 11' and casing; 13 :and extend circumferentially between vthe gusset plates 12. The motive fluid discharged from the-combustion chambers-flows directly toa full-admission turbine nozzleaindicated: generally as '25 and comprising an outer shroud'ringfl an innervshroud ring:27,-an d nozzle: vanes or blades.1.28 extending generally radially between 'the shroud-rings. The vanes 28, direct "motivei-flui'd the turbine-buckets 19:from whichit flows into the turbine exhaustzduct (nob-shown);

The inner shroudsring-27' is-moun-ted on .the support ring; 11 by means which} provide for relative "radialiexpansion of-theseparts :but-prevent'any axial or rotational movement of:the shroud ring; Referring also to Fig. 2, a flan'gefil "is providedsby a ring welded'to 'the inner surface :of the shroud ring ;27 approximately "half way between the'leadin'g'and :trail-ing edges thereof: This flange 31 is formed with notches lor?slots '32ewhich embraceiwashers '33 monntedon cap screws'r34'threaded into theisupport ring 11. r-The flange v31 is held against the ring'll'by 1a ringx36 drawnmp' against washers "33 by the cap' screws r34. 1 The washers are sufliciently thicker than I the flangerSli to provide clearance for sliding movement toaccommodate "relative expansion but, as will be apparent, axial displacement or rotationiof the nozzle is prevented .andftheinnerishroud is centered by the coaction of thewashersfSS andslots '32, which are relatively numerous.

- A -labyrinthseal 37 which cooperates with the forward face sof the turbine wheel is:mounted by means of the cap screws '34.

'The bladesor vanes=28-may be'formediof folded sheet metal 'or may-be solid,'ifdesired. As 1 illustrated, particularly in 5 Fig. 4, the-blade is :a hollow sheet metal a blade formed by t'olding an'd the outer :end of the blade is closed by'acap 41 which may be welded or high'zternperature brazed=tothebody of the blade; The vanes gextend throughgmating openings in the inner shroud :27 and are-welded to the inner shroud 27 sothat the-vanes are rigid with the-inner shroud The outer end-of each vane is {slidably mounted in -a mating opening 43 in the outer shroud 26. .The outershro'ud'is thus free to expand 1 relative to the-blades or the inner shroud'but is held against rotation about its axis bythe'vanes 28. The outer shroud is held against displacement axially of the. engine by'the vanes 28, and additionallyhy a ring, strip; or rib "4-4 welded to the .outersurface of, theshmud at the trailing edges The ring v 14 is adapted to engage a shoulder 316.011 the :turbine case 16 butzinsthe vinoperativeconditionof the engine is slightly spaced therefi'om. Engagement of the ring 44'.and abutment 46 provides an abutment which prevents substantial movement of the outer shroud axially or downstream under the gas load. A second ring, strip, or rib 47 is welded to the outer surface of the shroud 26 adjacent its leading edge. As will be apparent from Fig. 4, the'ring 47 is formedwith slot 48 which bridge the ends of the vanes 28. t j I It will be noted that the outer surfaces of the rings, strips, or ;ribs 47 and 44 are shown as considerably spaced from the inner surface of the turbine nozzle case '13. The drawing illustrates the clearance when the 'engine'is cold. In operation, the nozzle becomes much 'hotter than the nozzle case and expands relatively there- Y the inner shroudring on the is additionally stiffened by the bolting'flange) to provide an abutment between the rings and case so that the shroud is'held against going out of round to any significant extent when the engine is hot. Since the contact is limited by the small width of the rings 44 and 47, heat transfer to the casing is not excessive when the shroud is thus centered. Moreover, engagement of the ends of the nozzle vanes 28 with the ring 47 will, under these conditions, limit any distortion of the inner shroud ring 27 which might otherwise occur. n

It will be apparent, howeventhat because of the con-' struction of the nozzle, there is very little tendency for 7' distortion to be set up. The nozzle does not carry any structural load of the engine and is acted upon only by the gas loads. The shrouds can expand relatively to the support 11 and case '13 and relatively to each other, without setting up any stresses. Thus, any need for segmentation of the shrouds is eliminated. a

A seal is mounted between the casing 13 and the outer shroud ring 26 comprising an Inconel braid seal 51 mounted in a channel 52'fixed to the casing.

This application is related to the applications of Wilgus S. Brofiitt for Turbine Nozzle, Serial No. 327,352 filed' December 22, 1952 (Patent 2,801,075) and Serial No. 327,353 filed December 22, 1952. a

The invention is not to be regarded as limited in any way by the detailed description herein of the preferred embodiment thereof for the purpose of explaining the invention. It will be apparent that many modifications may be made by the exercise of'skill in theart within the scope of the principles of the invention.

1. A turbine nozzle comprising an annular outer casing an annular support within the casing, a continuous inner nozzle shroud ring including a flange extending radially inward from the shroud ring at a zone intermediate the edges thereof, means mounting the flange on the support with freedom for relative radial expansion, a continuous outer nozzle shroud ring disposed within and adjacent to the casing, means on the outer shroud ring and the casing adapted to provide an abutment to restrain the outer shroud ring against ,axial displacement 'by gas loading, nozzle vanes fixed to the inner shroud support with freedom for relative radial expansion, a continuous outer nozzle shroud ring disposed within and adjacent to the casing, interengaging relatively radially slidable means on the casing and outer shroud ring providing an abutment to restrain the outer shroud ring against axial displacement by gas loading, nozzle vanes extending generally radially from one shroud ring to the other, the vanes being fixed to one shroud ring and extending slidably through openings in the other shroud ring so asto provide for radial expansion, and means on the outer shroud ring and casing defining a rib extending around the perimeter of the shroud ring and a surface on the casing adapted to be closely spaced'to the ribupon thermal expansion of the engine so as tolengage the rib upon distortion of the shroud ring during operation of the engine and limit such'distortion. 1 n, Y

3. A full-admission turbine nozzle "comprising an annular outer casing, an annular inner support, means extending from the casing to the support maintaining the casing and support relatively fixed'in coaxial relation, a

continuous inner nozzle shroud ring, means mounting the inner shroud ring on the support with freedom for a relative radial expansion, a continuous outer nozzle ring and extending therefrom slidably through openings for the vanes in the outer shroud ring, and a strip fixed to the outer shroud ring extending across the said openings and over the outer ends of the vanes to limit inward displacement of the shroud ring relative to the vanes, the outer shroud ring being radially slidably andcircumferentially rotatably mounted in the casing subject to limitation of circumferential movement in the casing by the vanes. i r 2. A full-admission turbine nozzle comprising 'an an; nular outer casing, an annular inner support, means extending from the casing to the support maintaining the casing and support relatively fixed in coaxial relation, a

shroud ring disposed within and adjacent to the casing, interengaging means on the casing and outer shroud ring providing an abutment to restrain the .outer vshroud ring against axial displacement by 'gas loading, and nozzle vanes extending generally radially from one shroud ring to the other, the vanes being fixed to one shroud ring -andtextending slidably through openings in the, other shroud ring so as to provide for radial expansion, the

outer shroud ring being mounted in thecasing so as to be freely rotatable therein except as bridled by the vanes. 4. A full-admission turbine nozzle comprising an annular outer casing, an annular inner support, means extending fromtthe casing to the support maintaining the casing and support relatively fixed in coaxial relation, a continuous inner nozzle shroud ring, means mounting the inner shroud ring on the support, a continuous outer nozzle shroud ring disposed within and adjacent to the casing, nozzle vanes extending generallyJadially from one shroud ring to the other, the vanes being fixed to the inner shroud ring and extending slidably through openings in the outer shroud ring so as'to provide for radial expansion, and means fixed on the outer shroud ring bridging the ends of the vanes and adjacent thereto, the

last-named means being closely adjacent the casing upon so that engagement of the last-named means with'the vanes upon inward distortion of the outer shroud ring and with the casing upon outward distortion of the outer shroud ring limits distortion of the outer shroud ring.

5. A turbine nozzle comprising an annular support, a first shroud ring, a second shroud ring, means mounting the first shroud ring on the support with freedom for radial expansion of the ring, the mounting means including means restraining the first shroud ring against rotation around its axis and against displacement along its axis, and nozzle vanes extending from one shroud ring to the other, the vanes being fixed to the first shroud ring and being slidably mounted in the second shroud ring, the second shroud ring being circumferentially rotatably and radially slidably mounted in the support and being located circumferentially by the vanes, and the slidable mounting of the vanes in the second shroud ring providing for radial expansion of the second shroud ring.

6. A turbine nozzle comprising an annular outer casing, an annular support withinrthe casing, a continuous inner-nozzle shroudring, means mounting the shroud ring on the support with freedom for relative radial expansion, a continuous outer nozzle shroud ring disposed within and adjacent to the casing, means on the'outer shroud ring and the casing engageable to provide an abutment to restrain the outer shroud ring against axial displacement by gas loading, nozzle vanes fixed to the inner shroud ring and extending therefrom into, and radially slidably mounted in, openings for the vanes in the outer shroud ring, and a rib on the outer nozzle shroud ring normally radially spaced from the casing in the cold condition of the engine adapted to abut the casing upon thermal expansion of the engine in operation to limit outward displacement of the outer shroud ring relative to the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Howard Aug. 23, 1949 Judson Nov. 22, 1949 Howard Aug. 12, 1952, Howard et a1. Jan. 13, 1953 Rainbow et al Jan. 13, 1953 Wislicenus June 2, 1953 Thomas et a1. June 23, 1953 Broflitt July 30, 1957 

